UK refuses to release footage related to aid worker death
The family of a UK aid worker killed in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza has criticised the UK government, after the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) refused to release footage gathered by a Royal Air Force (RAF) surveillance aircraft, Middle East Eye reported on April 1st.
James Kirby, a 47-year-old ex-UK Army rifleman, was working with the World Central Kitchen when an attack on a three-car aid convoy in April 2024 killed him. Two other British veterans were among the people killed in the attack.
The MoD confirmed it had footage from an RAF spy plane conducting a reconnaissance flight over Gaza on the day of the strike. However, it said it will not disclose the footage, due to national security and defence exemptions.
In an interview with The Times, Kirby’s family questioned the decision to withhold the footage. “I want to know who’s made that decision not to make it public and why they haven’t,” said Kirby’s mother, Jacqui Kirby.
An MoD spokesperson told Middle East Eye that surveillance flights over Gaza “are unarmed…and are solely focused on securing the release of the hostages”.
They maintain that the UK only shares intelligence “where [they] are satisfied that it will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law”.
The government’s refusal to disclose the footage has intensified scrutiny over the UK’s surveillance operations in Gaza. During a recent parliamentary debate, independent MP Shockat Adam questioned the extent of UK reconnaissance missions.
“If hundreds of UK flights have taken place over Gaza, what have we witnessed?” he asked. “What crimes, if any, have we seen?”
He noted that the UK conducted 645 surveillance and recon between December 2023 and November 2024. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard did not respond to the questions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially described the killings as “unintentional”. Israel’s military later dismissed two officers and admonished two senior commanders, attributing the attack to a drone operator’s error.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said to The Times: “We are pressing Israel to swiftly conclude the military advocate-general’s investigation . . . Israel must ensure lessons are learnt to deliver lasting safety improvements for aid workers on the ground.”
Kirby’s family has rejected the investigation, calling it a “whitewash”, and urged for an independent inquiry.
Jacqui criticised UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, saying he did not know who she was at a Foreign Office meeting.
Lammy recently condemned Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz for his comments which threatened Palestinians on March 20th, the Middle East Eye reported. Katz promised Gazan residents that not returning the hostages and not removing Hamas would result in “total devastation”.
Lammy’s condemnation marked the first time a UK minister criticised a senior Israeli minister for comments about Gaza.
Middle East Eye, The Times
